On the day we were set to discover the gender of our twins, my excitement was palpable, and my partner felt the same. As the ultrasound wand moved back and forth over my growing belly, the anticipation mounted. The doctor announced, “Baby A is… a girl.”
He added more gel and continued, “And Baby B is also a girl.”
With that, my partner exclaimed joyfully, “AH… two girls!” I couldn’t help but smile. Two daughters: what a thrilling prospect!
As we left the clinic, holding onto our blurry black-and-white sonogram images, my partner remarked, “Two girls means two periods at the same time.” The reality of that statement hit me hard. We were still months away from their arrival, yet the thought of managing two girls menstruating simultaneously was daunting.
My partner has vivid memories of her own conversation about periods, which was more terrifying than enlightening. As for me, I can hardly recall any discussion surrounding my transition into puberty.
For girls, puberty can start as early as age 8, triggered by hormonal changes from the hypothalamus. This leads to various physical developments that can be uncomfortable to talk about. As our twin daughters approach their sixth birthday, I find myself unprepared for the conversations that lie ahead. Thankfully, I’ve recently learned about the concept of a period box, which eases my anxiety.
What is a Period Box?
A period box is a thoughtful resource suggested by blogger Sarah Lee. She recommends creating a box for your daughter when she turns 9, although discussions about puberty can start much earlier. This personalized box can serve as a guide for navigating the transition, making it a great way to start the conversation.
According to Sarah, assembling a “first-period box” helps prepare girls for menarche by demystifying the products they’ll use, making the experience less intimidating. It’s also an opportunity to discuss the various types of sanitary products available, allowing them to make informed choices about their preferences.
You can use any box for this purpose, but eco-friendly options can be found at The Period Store, which also offers ideas for what to include.
When we had the puberty talk with our son a few years ago, it caught us off guard. One day, he came home from school and proclaimed, “My teacher said we all need to buy deodorant over the weekend.” Before we knew it, we were in the deodorant aisle eyeing Old Spice—just like his grandfather. This prompted us to realize it was time to have that conversation.
For our son, we relied heavily on books. One that we found particularly helpful was “It’s So Amazing: A Book About Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families.” We plan to use it again with our daughters. While books can initiate these discussions, they should not replace open conversations. We allowed our son to steer the dialogue, addressing whatever questions he had. It became clear that bringing up sensitive topics ourselves could lead to discomfort, so we waited for him to approach us.
As I look forward to this unique journey with my two daughters, I’m excited to create a period box for them, filled with suggestions from Sarah’s blog. This will include sanitary pads, menstrual cups, tampons, Midol, a lavender heating pad, raspberry leaf tea, and chocolate. I will also include a personal note inviting them to approach either me or their other parent whenever they have questions or concerns.
Think of a period box as a blend of an Easter basket and a thoughtful gift. It should contain essentials, comforting items, and educational materials. It’s crucial that they learn about these changes from us rather than peers or, worse, feeling lost and unsupported.
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Summary:
Creating a period box can greatly facilitate discussions about puberty with your daughters. This personalized resource not only prepares them for their first period but also helps to demystify menstrual products. Open communication is key, and a period box can serve as a comforting tool to encourage those important conversations.
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